Here we discuss sex and politics, loudly, no apologies hence "screeds" and "attitude."

7/23/2007

alberto prepares to face congress

Cindy Sheehan and about two dozen fellow anti-war activists were arrested on Monday for refusing to leave the office of a Democratic lawmaker after calling for the impeachment of President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.Before police escorted her away, Sheehan, who emerged as a leading peace activist after her son Casey was killed in Iraq in 2004, announced what she had earlier suggested - that she will be a candidate for the U.S. Congress next year.Sheehan said she will challenge House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat. Pelosi has refused calls to start impeachment of Bush and Cheney for what critics charge was misleading the United States into war.

that's from retuers' 'Peace Activist Sheehan Arrested at Congress' (via truthout). so cindy's going to run (good for her) and let's note whose office she and others were arrested in: john conyers. that's really sad. john conyers, who knows all about civil disobedience, sicks the cops on civil disobedience. oh how they mighty have fallen.

conyers, if he had guts left, would be calling for impeachment. call for it and the democrats will support it. and nancy pelosi? let her try to remove him as chair. if she does, there would be a huge outcry. if he declared impeachment proceedings, he would box pelosi in and there's not a damn thing she could do.

When the USA Patriot Act was being reauthorized in 2005, Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales claimed that not one single abuse of the "national security letters" provision had been reported.It must be his poor memory that caused Mr. Gonzales to tell Congress that no abuse had been reported. What else would explain why he did not mention the reports that described abuses and mismanagement of NSLs - which we now discover were in his possession before his testimony?I was one of four library colleagues who challenged an NSL in the courts around the time of its reauthorization. We were under a gag order because of the nondisclosure provision of the NSL section of the Patriot Act. This happened even though a judge with high-level security clearance had declared that there was no risk in identifying us as recipients of an NSL.

it's really easy to lie to congress when the 1s who can dispute you are under a gag order and you know it. alberto's a filthy liar who has been caught lying repeatedly. it's a national joke that he's allowed to head the justice dept. he should be indicted.

tommorrow, reuters reports that alberto will tell congress, 'I could walk away or I could devote my time, effort and energy to fix the problems. Since I have never been one to quit, I decided that the best course of action was to remain here and fix the problems.' what kind of a system does the justice department operate under? i'm sure many of the people they prosecute would gladly offer 'to fix the problems' they created (rape, murder, theft, etc.) if they were given that option instead of punishment. alberto needs to be punished. asking the man who sunk the ship to stay on is crazy. so watch for alberto's nonsense about 'accountability' to be applauded by the press tomorrow. accountability means you do more than words and, at this rate, accountability for alberto means a loss of the post he has repeatedly bungled. if he stays, let's bring 'brownie' back and give him a chance to fix the mess he made during hurricane katrina.

Monday, July 23, 2007. Chaos and violence continue, the US military announces the death of another US service member, on Sunday the US bombed civilians (today the British follow suit), Iran and the US plan to meet tomorrow in Baghdad, and more.

Starting with war resistance. Agustin Aguayo served in Iraq as a medic and attempted to be granted CO status. The US military refused to grant it and claimed that there had to be a religious awkening (which CO status does not require) while ignoring Aguayo's religious awakening. After his first tour, Aguayo was stationed in Germany when he was informed he would be returning to Iraq. Aguayo self-checked out and returned in less than 30 days which DID NOT prevent the US military from charging him with desertion (despite the fact that the accepted measure for a desertion charge is a minimum of 30 days). Aguayo's court-martial was held in the spring and he was sentenced to prison but the time since the end of September was recognized as time served. Aguayo is now back in the US and speaking out. Sunday he spoke in Los Angeles and Stuart Silverstein (Los Angeles Times) reportshe "received a hero's welcome" and declared that while serving in Iraq, "I realized I wasn't just a medic, someone that helps and patches up and heals the wounded. I was much more. I was an enabler of these missions." Silverstein reports that Aguayo self-describes as a "conscientious objector/war resister." The Acorn reports that Aguayo will speak this Thursday from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm at Grant Brimhall, Thousand Oaks Library, 1401 E. James Rd., that the event is "free and open to the public" and more information is available by calling (805) 375-9939.

Over the weekend, the US military conducted an air strike in the heavily populated area north of the capital. Richard A. Oppel Jr. and Qais Mizher (New York Times) reported that the US military asserted they had killed 'insurgents' only. Molly Hennessy-Fiske (Los Angeles Times) reported that the Saturday air attack was disputed by eye witnesses in Husseiniya "said U.S. helicopters attacked three houses in a four-hour period, killing at least 18 people, including women and children. They said about 21 people were wounded in the attacks, which leveled the buildings" and quoted Hazim Hussein stating, "It was a war and not a response to an attack targeting them. It was a war against civilians inside their houses."Hannah Allam and Jenan Hussein (McClatchy Newspapers) quoted Salam al Rubaiye who disputed the US military's account and declared, "Lies, lies, lies.The Americans always try to change the truth, especially when it concerns the Sadrists," and Bassem Musawi who stated, "I took out with my own hands the bodies of two young children, two men, two adult women and four little girls. I don't know why the Americans bombed these homes. I know one was the house of Abu Mustafa. He's a very poor man with only one boy and the rest of his family are girls. And he didn't even have a rifle." Democracy Now! today quoted one unidentified resident declaring, "This is what the occupation does. The occupation. Look at the fork-lift trucks, they've turned the world upside down, our relatives have been ripped to pieces. Does God accept this? Does Mohammed accept it? Why, are we heathens? Even Israel hasn't done anything like this. Israel did not do what America has done to us." And Amy Goodman (DN!) informed that "Sunday nearly 1,000 Iraqis rallied in Husseiniya to protest the killings."

In some of today's violence . . .

Bombings?

Sinan Salaheddin (AP) noted three car bombings in Baghdad today "within thirty minutes" Mohammed al Dulaimy and Hannah Allam (McClatchy Newspapers) report that three car bombs were followed later in the day by a fourth with an estimated 18 people being killed while at least 40 were wounded, that "Madhi Army militiamen barred a journlist from photographing the scene," that the Badr militia "set up their own checkpoing" within a 100 feet of the US forces (with apparently no US objection), and quote locals including Haider who declared, "We don't have a government! It's worthless. Bring me one honest man from the Sunnis or the Shiites!" and an elderly woman who asked, "Why are they killing us? We have no one left! They aren't saving anyone, they're killing civilians. And who's behind this?"before pointing "to the American soldiers."

Laith Hammoudi (McClatchy Newspapers) reports a Baghdad bus bombing claimed 1 life and left seven more wounded, a Baghdad mortar attack left four people injured, a bombing on Kafri - Tooz St. targeting Soleman Beck (who survived), a Mosul mortar attack that claimed the lives of 3 members of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, a child was wounded in a rocket attack in Basra, and one person was killed in Basra bombing by British forces which left eight more injured and damaged homes. BBC reports, "At least two policemen were killed and 10 wounded when a woman hiding an explosives belt under her Islamic gown blew herself up in the western Anbar province."

Shootings?

Laith Hammoudi (McClatchy Newspapers) reports the inury of 4 Iraqi soldiers from gunfire in Baghdad, 2 people shot dead in Baghdad, 2 people shot dead in Mosul, "2 electricity directorate workers" shot dead in Baquba (a third wounded), 2 shot dead at a fake check point in Khalis (five kidnapped, one wounded), and 2 shot dead at a fake check point in Khanaqeen (one wounded and at least two kidnapped). BBC reports, "Two people were shot dead in the town of Iskandariya, south of the Iraqi capital " CBS and AP report that the two were husband and wife and that a police officer was also killed.

Today the US military announced: "One MNC-I Soldier was killed when an improvised explosive device detonated next to his vehicle during combat operations in Baghdad Saturday." The announcement brings the ICCC total to 3633 US service members killed in the illegal war with 54 of those for the month of July thus far.

Turning to political news. On Sunday, Turkey held elections. Today's Zaman reports that the results of the election meant no big changes with the AK Party retaining their hold on power in "a landslide victory" leaving it "projected to win 340 seats in the 550-member Parliament." AP is calling it "a mandate" while noting "the new government faces a series of challenges, including a presidential election, Kurdish rebel violence and lingering tension over the role of Islam in society." Al Jazeera quotes Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan declaring, "This is the first time in 52 years that a party in power has increased its votes for a second term. We will continue to work with determination to achieve our European Union goal" but notes EU membership remains elusive with France objecting and other countries wanting to see more reforms. Today's Zaman notes there was a record and peaceful turnout with an estimated 42,533,041 people casting ballots. The Kurdish also won more seats in the election and this applies to Iraq in that the PKK, defined as a "terrorist group" by many Western nations including the United States, has favored a separatist movement in Turkey and is said to receive support in northern Iraq which has led to cross-border excursions by the Turkish military in recent months as well an exchange of mortars. As The Turkish Daily News noted Friday, Turkey is asking Iraq to extradite Ali Riza Altun (head of the PKK) after Austria waived him through. The Turkish Daily News also reports that Kurdish leader Leyla Zana is under investigation for remarks at a Friday get-out-the-vote rally where she allegedly called for the partitioning of Turkey supposedly stating, "It is time to divide Turkey into states. Ankara: Divide the country into states and establish the state of Kurdistan."

In United States political news, John V. Walsh (CounterPunch) reports that the tired and boring Toad is back in the news penning an op-ed whining about Ralph Nader who may or may not run in the 2008 presidential election. Walsh notes that chants of "Run, Ralph, Run!" sprang up while Nader was speaking at this month's Green Party convention. Walsh reports that Toad gives a sloppy wet kiss to WalkOn.org and hails it for its close relationship with DC (a relationship some might characterize as fondeling) despite the reality that "Gallup shows . . . the public is fed up with the crowd in Congress" referencing the fact that Congress' current approval rating is lower than when the Republicans were in charge in 2006.On the Green Party convention, Kimberly Wilder reported on it at her site and you can click here for video of Nadar addressing ballot access. No known video exists of Toad fueling rumors that he is the Dark Lord; however, several Manhattan adult video outlets may be of assistance.

In diplomatic news, CBS and AP report that Iran and the US will meet in Baghdad tomorrow as a follow up to their May Baghdad meeting and that the US continues its whisper campaign accusing the Iranian government of arming Iraqis opposed to the US illegal war and occupation in their own country. In a Thursday press briefing (via videolink) with reporters, Lt. General Ray Odierno attempted to up the whisper campaign by claiming thatthere was "a link between Iranian support to extremists" meaning al Qaeda but, when questioned further, admitted, "We don't see any evidence -- significant evidence".Mohammed al Dulaimy and Hannah Allam (McClatchy Newspapers) report that "some Iraqi officials had complained that they were being sidelined; another example of overlapping forces at play in Iraq. It was later agreed that Iraqi officials would observe the talks, though U.S.-Iranian interests would take center stage."

Despite those facts (Congressionally mandated and Odierno being clear that he wasn't saying the report was off), Thom Shanker and David E. Sanger (New York Times) spun Saturday trying to make 'good news' out of the fact that the September report was still 'on' -- it was never off. This was grasped on Thursday (by those paying attention) and on Friday when Tony Snow, White House flack, gave a press briefing and tried to Happy Talk the way Sanger and Shanker would the following day. When Snow attempted that, a reporter at the press briefing responded, "We know that he [Odierno] didn't ask to change the September reporting date. That isn't the point." But the New York Times tried to play dumb and make it the point on Saturday. The actual point is that the White House is attempting a push-back wherein they begin selling, "Ignore the September report we've repeatedly cited. It doesn't matter. What really matters is the November report." The push-back is to lower expectations, clampdown on public outrage and attempt to buy more time for the illegal war.